CONCUSSIONS, HEAD INJURIES, THOSE POWERFUL HITS IN THE NFL ARE RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUTH FOOTBALL PROGRAMS. USUALLY THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH HAS BEEN A KEY PART OF SAFETY. TONIGHT, WE ASKED THE QUESTION -- WE TALK ABOUT KIDS. IS THE GAME TOO ROUGH TO PLAY? THE CRUSHING BLOWS DO NOT COMPARE TO THE BLOWS. THE INJURIES COULD BE JUST AS SERIOUS. I SAW HIM GO DOWN RIGHT AWAY AND I CAN HEAR THE CRACK OF THE HELMET FROM ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FIELD. KEVIN IS TALKING ABOUT HIS SON WHO TOOK A HIT TO HIS HEAD AND HAD THEM SITTING IN SILENCE. NO TV, NO IPAD , HE DIDN'T MIND THE NO HOMEWORK PART. A PRESCRIPTION FAR DIFFERENT FROM A DECADE AGO. WHEN YOU GOT YOUR BELL RUNG, YOU CAME BACK THE NEXT WEEK. IT WAS NOT THOUGHT OF AS MUCH DIFFERENT AS GETTING A SPRAIN OR A BRUISE. ALL OF THAT HAS CHANGED WITH REVELATIONS OF BRAIN INJURIES IN THE NFL. AND NEW STATE LAW SAYS NEW ATHLETES SHOWING CONDITION -- MCCUTCHEN SENT -- CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS MUST SIT OUT. WE SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES ABOUT LETTING KIDS. IT WHY IN ATHLETIC TRAINER IS NOW A FIXTURE ON THE SIDELINES IN PRACTICES AND GAMES. I WOULD DO IT ON FIELD ASSESSMENT AND TRY TO TALK TO MOM AND DAD. AT THAT IS THE ON-FIELD PROTECTION. THIS IS THE OFF FIELD PRECAUTION. HE GETS A FREE BASELINE BRAIN SCREENING SO HIS PARENTS HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPARE IF HE SHOULD EVER GET A CONCUSSION. EVERY PLAYER GETS THE SCREENING AND A TOP-OF-THE-LINE HELMET. REPURCHASED 200 HELMETS LAST YEAR -- WE PURCHASED 200 HELMETS LAST YEAR. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CUSTOM FITTED TO THE HEAD -- AND FIT IT TO THE HEAD. THERE IS THE ABILITY TO PUMP IT UP IN THE BACK. IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT NOT A PERFECT SOLUTION. SOMETIMES YOU WILL GET THINGS LIKE A WHIPLASH SO IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW FAST YOUR BRAIN IS TRAVELING INSIDE THE SKULL. A CHILD'S BRAIN IS STILL DEVELOPING. THE EFFECTS OF A CONCUSSION OR EVEN DEMAND -- MANY SMALLER HITS GOOD BEFORE MORE DETRIMENTAL COMPARED TO HEAD INJURIES IN AN OLDER PLAYER. HE TOOK A CONTROVERSIAL STAND IN PBS'S FRONTLINE. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN OR 8, 10, 12, WITH A PLAYFUL BALL? NO. IT IS DANGEROUS AND COULD IMPACT THEIR LONG-TERM MENTAL HEALTH. YOU ONLY GET ONE BRAIN. KEVIN THINKS KIDS COULD PLAY SAFELY. EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO DECIDE WHEN TO LIMIT PLAY. HE DID. HE TOOK HIS SON OUT OF THE GAME PERMANENTLY. THEY SAID YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD OF HAVING A FOURTH CONCUSSION AGAINST IT COULD AFFECT YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. HE IS A COST COUNTRY -- CROSS- COUNTRY KID OUT. HIS 11-YEAR-OLD KID IS NOW ON THE FIELD. IT WILL EVOLVE TO A BIGGER ARGUMENT OF WHICH SPORTS ARE WE GOING TO FOCUS ON TO TRY TO LIMIT THE EFFECTS OF CONCUSSIONS . HOW CAN WE PREVENT THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE? WHILE OUR REPORT LOOKS AT FOOTBALL, DOUG ATHLETES ARE AT RISK AT OTHER SPORTS AS WELL. FOR YOUNG ATHLETES IN FOOTBALL,